Santa Monica-Malibu School District Hires Family Engagement Coordinator

By Lookout Staff

June 20, 2018 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District last week hired a 20-year veteran of education to implement its new "Family Engagement Framework."

Dr. Freda Rossi was appointed last Thursday as the new family engagement coordinator, District officials said. Her appointment is effective July 1.

Presented to the board earlier this year, the framework "provides guidance to schools as they work to implement effective family engagement practices that yield higher levels of student academic success and college and career readiness," officials said. Rossi, who is currently a HeartMath coach and educational leadership consultant, previously coordinated bilingual parent workshops and developed parent education programs on a variety of topics, officials said.

Rossi also has conducted professional development for teachers and administrators "relating to curriculum and instruction, parent engagement, school climate and California standards."

"Dr. Rossi brings more than 20 years of experience in public education
from K-12 school districts and several universities where she has served as professor, instructional services director, English Learner and Bilingual program manager, elementary school principal, literacy coach and dual immersion teacher," officials said.

Rossi earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cal State Los Angeles in studio arts, a Master of Arts in education administration from Cal State Long Beach and a Doctor of Education in educational administration and leadership from University of California, Irvine.

She is bilingual in Spanish.

“I am honored and excited to be joining the SMMUSD community,” Dr. Rossi said in a statement. “I am looking forward to meeting the families, students, and, staff and serving the district.”